Octavio Solis Reveals Mother Lode of Mexico-US Family by Mary Lou Herlihy and Barry David Horwitz From a CraigsList ad reading: “All Joads come home. Riches beyond your wildest dreams,” surfaces Martín Jodes with his Spanish version of the name Joad. The young Mexican American drifter is facing the adventure of his life, finding…
Michael Wayne Turner III Resurrects MLK, Writer & Performer by K. Marguerite Caronna The Reverend stands in the shadows, behind an imposing white pulpit on a raised red stage at Oakland Theater Project. Candles illuminate the dais, and perimeter of the performance space. As the audience enters, a self-possessed Michael Wayne Turner III prepares,…
John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Play Remains Relevant by Mary Lou Herlihy Before the play begins, I chat with the woman next to me. She shares a painful story about her local church where accusations of sexual improprieties resulted in the removal of two priests. In both cases, she believed them to be innocent….
Rotimi Agbabiaka Triumphs as Electric, Elegant Emcee by Barry David Horwitz If you see one musical this year, Center REP’s “Cabaret” would be the one. There’s no bigger thrill than seeing masterful Rotimi Agbabiaka dancing, singing, gyrating in brilliant costumes, playing the emcee in a 1931 Berlin café. He drains every note for its…